The Mirage is a minimal, lightweight, incredibly responsive and also provides just a touch of guidance for the neutral to slight overpronator. This shoe is going to knock your socks off.
The ProGrid Mirage is part of Saucony’s minimalist range of shoes which is addressing the requirements of the barefoot running market. There are many benefits from running barefoot, as the human body was designed to do exactly that.
However literally running barefoot isn't practical for the vast majority of us, so Saucony have come up with a great compromise between the ideology of running naturally and the realities of western life - running in cities on concrete/asphalt etc. Their minimalist range puts the foot closer to the ground, by using a lower profile (thinner) midsole and reduces the difference between the height of the heel and the height of the forefoot. In this new range, the heel is only 4mm above the forefoot, which compares with between 8 and 12mm in a standard running shoe.
Saucony have been able to do this by providing as much cushioning as possible (using our new ProGrid Lite technology) in a thinner midsole. All this technology means to the runner is that he/she can wear a lighter, more flexible shoe which still offers the protection of a standard running shoe, both in terms of cushioning and support.
The Mirage also provides a little stability by adding a supportive TPU arc on the medial side so for those runners who naturally Overpronate, this will gently guide them back into a neutral position in time for toe-off.
● Heel ProGrid LITE for low-profile, lightweight, flexible cushioning
● Supportive TPU Arc to control overpronation
● Memory Foam Heel Pods to hold your foot in place and mould to the shape of YOUR foot.
● Breathable Hydrator fabric collar and tongue lining for moisture management and blister prevention
● HRC Strobel Board for a more cushioned ride
● Blown Rubber outsole for great grip, but soft underfoot flexion
● XT 900 for durability on impact areas (around the outside of the heel)
● EVA Sockliner for full length, anti microbial cushioning
● EVA+ for durable, plush cushioning The ProGrid™ Kinvara was awarded “Best Debut” by Runner’s World US magazine in the publication’s 2010 Summer Shoe Buyer’s Guide. The ProGrid Kinvara is a minimally constructed, lightweight performance training shoe for neutral runners. Weighing only 7.7 ounces (based on a men’s size 9), it is a performance-training shoe that allows the foot to move naturally through its paces.
The ProGrid Kinvara was one of only three shoes cited by Runner’s World US, the world’s leading authority on running information, as the very best of the 18 shoes profiled—all of which were put through rigorous testing by the magazine’s editors, its 350 “wear-testers” and its one-of-a-kind Runner’s World Shoe Lab (an independent testing facility in Portland, OR.)

“The Kinvara minimizes to maximize performance, efficiency and response,” said Patrick O’Malley, senior vice president of global product for Saucony. “The Kinvara’s minimalist approach allows the foot to run uninhibited, delivering a natural yet lively ride for efficient runners everywhere. The whole Saucony team thanks Runner’s World for recognizing our relentless passion to continue to create the best running shoes on the planet.”